Lee Hsien Loong Quotes

Powerful Lee Hsien Loong for Daily Growth

About Lee Hsien Loong

Lee Hsien Loong (born February 10, 1952) is a renowned Singaporean politician, the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore since 2004. Born to the founding Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, and his wife, Kwa Geok Choo, Lee Hsien Loong was destined for political prominence from an early age. He attended Raffles Institution in Singapore before moving to the United Kingdom for tertiary education. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from Trinity College, Cambridge, and later completed a Master's Degree in Public Administration at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Upon his return to Singapore, Lee joined the civil service in 1971. He rose through the ranks rapidly, serving as Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Transport, and then as Second Minister for Defence, before becoming Senior Minister in 1984. In 1987, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, a position he held until his appointment as Prime Minister in 2004. His tenure has been marked by significant economic growth, emphasis on innovation, and a continued focus on meritocracy and multiracialism. Lee Hsien Loong is known for his pragmatic leadership style and commitment to governance excellence. He is also a prolific writer and orator, with numerous speeches and articles to his name. His book, "One Nation, Together: Towards Greater Shared Future in Our Singapore", published in 2016, offers insights into his vision for Singapore's future. Quotes from Lee Hsien Loong often reflect his pragmatic and forward-thinking approach to governance. One of his most famous quotes is, "The world does not owe us a living; we have to make our own way in it." This reflects his belief in self-reliance and the importance of hard work in achieving success.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We are a small country, but we can make a big difference."

This quote by Lee Hsien Loong underscores the potential power of small nations or communities to create significant impact despite their size. It suggests that size does not necessarily equate to influence or effectiveness; rather, it's the collective spirit, determination, and innovative thinking of a people that can lead to substantial change. In essence, this quote encourages us to believe in our abilities to make a meaningful difference, regardless of our perceived limitations.

"The future is not fixed. We shape it with our actions and decisions."

This quote emphasizes the power of human agency in shaping the future. It suggests that we, as individuals and societies, have the ability to influence the course of events through the choices we make and the actions we take. In other words, our collective decisions determine the direction and nature of tomorrow, making it a malleable construct rather than an unchangeable destiny. This perspective encourages proactivity, responsibility, and empowerment, implying that by taking informed, thoughtful, and purposeful actions today, we can create a better future for ourselves and generations to come.

"Good policy is about striking a balance between competing interests."

The quote by Lee Hsien Loong suggests that effective decision-making often involves finding a middle ground or balance among conflicting needs, desires, or perspectives. This balance can be challenging because it requires understanding, empathy, and the ability to prioritize competing interests in a way that benefits everyone as much as possible. It's an acknowledgement that solving complex problems isn't always about satisfying one side entirely; rather, it's about finding solutions that work for all involved parties. In essence, good policy is both art and science – the art of balancing multiple interests and the science of applying knowledge to achieve the best possible outcome.

"Sometimes the most important thing in life is to learn which bridge to cross and how to cross it, and when not to cross at all."

This quote by Lee Hsien Loong suggests that making wise decisions about the challenges we face is crucial for a successful life. He encourages us to discern the right moments to take action, to choose the appropriate way forward, and sometimes, to avoid taking action altogether if it's not beneficial or if there are better options available. It underscores the importance of critical thinking, foresight, and prudence in navigating life's complexities.

"The greatest gift one generation can give another is a better world."

This quote by Lee Hsien Loong underscores the importance of intergenerational responsibility, emphasizing that the most valuable legacy a current generation can bestow upon future generations is a better world - one that is more peaceful, prosperous, equitable, sustainable, and enlightened than the one they inherited. This mindset inspires actions today with tomorrow's generations in mind, fostering progress and ensuring a brighter future for all.

The old model for India was to be self-sufficient. It was the ideal India became independent with, that you spin your own thread, make your own clothes.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Independent, Ideal, Became, Self-Sufficient

America is a great nation, not just because of your power and your wealth, but because of your high ideals, openness, and generosity of spirit.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Wealth, Nation, Ideals, Generosity

I do not owe hundreds of millions of potential foreign workers from around the world an obligation. I owe Singaporeans a responsibility.

- Lee Hsien Loong

World, Around, Foreign

I don't have farmers I can convert into factory workers.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Farmers, Workers, Factory, Convert

It has to be good to live in Singapore because otherwise, nobody will stand for it.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Will, Because, Otherwise, Singapore

What we can do in Singapore may not be doable elsewhere. Some things you know you need: you want efficient government, you want clean government, you want to do away with corruption, you must educate your people. You want to get housing and so on. All these are not such secrets, not so special to Singapore.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Housing, Some, Away, Singapore

We stand stoutly against all forms of terrorism, and cross-border terror is a particular problem that India has. Singapore has a problem with cross-border terror, too, because we are a very small country, and it is quite possible for an attack to be mounted on Singapore from beyond our shores.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Small, Country, Very, Singapore

We know India is very focussed on black money; it is a very high-focus subject and we have been very careful to make sure the investments into India are legitimate. There is no 'round-tripping' or hot money or bad money being funnelled through Singapore.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Through, Been, Very, Singapore

Singapore needs to be able to continue to add value to China in order for the relationship to be worthwhile for both sides.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Both Sides, Needs, Add, Singapore

I think if you look at the Singapore projects, we wanted to do industrial parks. They have taken very long to clear the issues of land, and these become politicised, and you can't settle it, and eventually the project languishes and nothing happens.

- Lee Hsien Loong

I Think, Very, Projects, Singapore

Singapore admires America's dynamism, vibrancy, and capacity for self-renewal. These qualities attract the best and brightest from around the world.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Best, Attract, Around, Singapore

You have to understand that Singapore is quite different from Mauritius.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Understand, Different, Quite, Singapore

If you don't have that Singapore core, you can top up the numbers, but you are no longer Singapore. It doesn't feel Singapore - it isn't Singapore - and we can issue everybody red passports, but where is the continuity?

- Lee Hsien Loong

Numbers, Everybody, Issue, Singapore

Countries in Asia - Singapore, certainly, but many other countries too - are good friends to both China and America, and we would like to be good friends with both.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Other, Like, Certainly, Singapore

China's influence is growing; it is natural that they want to integrate more, do more business with countries around them, and the Belt and Road is a constructive way in which they can do so.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Business, Natural, Which, Integrate

The tactics we were able to use in the 1960s, 1970s - let's have a campaign, mobilize everybody and, therefore, social pressure - stop littering, or stop spitting, or be courteous to one another: I am not sure that kind of approach will work anymore.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Everybody, Another, Use, Spitting

If you make a defamatory allegation that the Prime Minister is guilty of criminal misappropriation of pension funds of Singaporeans, that's a very serious matter.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Prime, Very, Minister, Funds

You look at the Americans. They don't lack fervour in moral causes. They promote democracy, freedom of speech, women's rights, gay rights, sometimes even transgender rights. But you don't see them applying that universally across the world with all their allies.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Sometimes, Universally, Allies

We have long depended on an America which has got a clear sense of its stakes in the world and how much it depends on the world as well as how much the world and its allies and friends depend on the United States of America, and we hope this will continue.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Hope, Depend, United, Allies

Chinese companies - telecommunications and technology companies - are some of the best internationally. Taobao, WeChat, Huawei - not only are they large companies, but they're also very technologically advanced.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Some, Very, Large, Technology Companies

For trade to grow, India must make a strategic decision that you want to encourage interdependence and more openness and more trade-based economy.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Decision, Grow, Strategic, Interdependence

We have to work towards free trade because otherwise we will miss out on many opportunities for cooperation, and relations amongst countries will become much more difficult.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Work, Will, Otherwise, Free Trade

No government prospers by saying, 'I don't need to do anything. Just by being there, we have made the country thrive.'

- Lee Hsien Loong

Country, Need, Made, Prospers

You have to have an idea of what you need to do, what needs to be fixed, what can be improved, what we should now imagine together which we didn't previously imagine. And having thought of it, decide to go it. And that's the government's role.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Needs, Imagine, Which, Fixed

We are open to the world; the world is at our doorstep. It washes in, not just through the windows, but we are immersed in it completely - through the Internet, through the media, through people traveling, coming here, as well as Singaporeans going abroad.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Through, Here, Abroad, Doorstep

The key thing in Northeast Asia is North Korea. They are unpredictable; they are developing their nuclear capabilities and their missiles.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Asia, Capabilities, North, Northeast

In our society, which is multiracial and multi-religious, giving offence to another religious or ethnic group, race, language, or religion is always a very serious matter.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Always, Religious, Which, Offence

Overall, we think religion is a good thing. I mean, if we were godless society, we would have many other problems; the communists found that out.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Think, Other, A Good Thing, Communists

If there are tensions between America and China, we will be asked to pick a side. It may not be directly, but you will get the message that, 'We would like you to be with us, and are you with us? If not, does that mean you're against us?' And that's to put it gently.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Will, May, Side, Gently

I think we are paying a lot of attention to China one way or the other. They are a big factor in the world. They are successful; they are growing. They want to grow their influence, and all the countries in Asia want to be their friend and want to benefit from China's development and success.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Big, Other, I Think, Factor

Whichever country we are talking to, we are concerned with economic cooperation, how to deepen our mutual dependence, how to find new areas of win-win.

- Lee Hsien Loong

New, Country, Concerned, Deepen

We want the U.S. to have constructive and stable relations with China. That makes it much easier for us. Then we don't have to choose sides.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Want, Makes, Constructive, Relations

Singaporeans generally feel more secure these days. One of our tasks is to remind them that this, a result of a continuing act of will and an appropriate sense of insecurity, is very helpful.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Will, Very, Appropriate, Tasks

The emerging economies, many of them are concerned. They didn't want the money to slosh in. They are afraid when the money sloshes out, but the tapering has to take place, and we have to be able to manage it.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Want, Concerned, Them, Manage

There will always be frictions when you have a foreign worker population or immigrant population in the country, and we have to manage that, and that requires good behaviour and adjustment both on the part of the foreign workers and the immigrants as well as on the part of the Singaporeans.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Country, Will, Always, Manage

We do have to watch to see how the foreign workers and immigrants are fitting in with our community, and you have to watch them mix so that you don't overbalance the numbers or the tone of our society.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Numbers, Tone, Our Community, Mix

I would not say that the North Koreans will do anything that the Chinese want them to do.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Will, Chinese, Would, Koreans

Every time you make a rule, somebody will think of a way to operate around the rule.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Think, Will, Operate, Every Time

You have an administration which understands America's international responsibilities and interests, but you have a population which is anxious, tired, and doesn't want to bear any burden and pay any price. And that's very difficult for whoever becomes president.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Very, Which, Administration, International

My colleagues went on the Internet, went on Facebook, and they found it helpful, and they persuaded me that I should try, so I did. It's quite fun provided you keep it in balance and... from time to time slip in a serious message.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Balance, Found, Provided, From Time To Time

I hope to develop our relationship with the Trump administration and with the United States. It's a very sound relationship that's based on the basic strategic congruence of views about the world, about the region.

- Lee Hsien Loong

United States, Very, Based, Region

The U.S. is not a claimant state in the South China Sea or in the China-Japan dispute over the Senkaku Islands. But, of course, the 7th Fleet has been a presence in the region since the Second World War, and it is the most powerful fleet in the region.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Been, Fleet, South, Region

One of the reasons America is welcome in Asia is because with America... there is a certain idealism and a certain bigness of soul. You want the region to prosper; you want countries to do well, and you are prepared to help them.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Idealism, Prosper, Reasons, Region

China has been developing, growing in economic strength and its influence in the region. That will continue.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Growing, China, Been, Region

We are happy to see China prospering; we are happy to see China playing a constructive and positive role in the region.

- Lee Hsien Loong

China, See, Role, Region

If we did not have a sense of who we were, how we got here, why we want to achieve something - which, on the face of it, on the logic of it, is probably not worth trying - and prove that logic wrong, then you wouldn't succeed; then you would just evaporate.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Achieve, Here, Prove, Evaporate

We are looking for ways where you can have a sandbox, where you have a restricted environment within which people can try new things, and I can try new rules. And depending on what works, then I open up the sandbox, and it becomes the new rule for the whole system.

- Lee Hsien Loong

New Things, Rule, Works, Restricted

The world is a diverse place. Nobody has a monopoly on virtue or wisdom.

- Lee Hsien Loong

World, Place, Monopoly, Diverse

To represent the nation, you must have multiracial representation.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Nation, Representation, Must, Represent

If you interview world leaders, everybody will say they are for free trade. But what they mean by it and what they do when they say they are pro free trade, you have to watch and see.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Will, Everybody, Leaders, Interview

With Singaporeans, you speak English, you're well-educated, the doors open everywhere.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Doors, Everywhere, The Doors, Well-Educated

No country can be an island unto itself or world unto itself. Not even the biggest country.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Country, Unto, Itself, No Country

America excels not just through sheer individual talent but by working together with others.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Talent, Through, Individual, Working Together

Over half a century working together on multiple issues, Singaporeans and Americans have made many enduring and close personal friendships.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Over, Half, Enduring, Working Together

The natural result of people preferring one of their own race is that a minority race president will find it hard to get elected, and so it's something we should do something about and which we can do something about.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Natural, Race, Which, Minority

There can only be one government, and the president has certain roles and duties, which are to hold the second key on money and on people but not to go and check the government or tell the government what it is supposed to do.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Tell, Which, Roles, Key

Just as our forefathers saved and invested to build what we, the current generation, are enjoying today, so, too, we must plant trees so that our sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters, can enjoy the shade.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Generation, Saved, Shade

I think every administration has a settling-in process. And there's always an adjustment between what you can say during a campaign and what you find are the possibilities and the imperatives when you win the election and you enter the Oval Office.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Possibilities, I Think, Imperative

It is never helpful to point at sticking points, but it is always helpful to encourage one's partners to take a more active and forward-looking approach.

- Lee Hsien Loong

More, Always, Active, Helpful

Basically, if you become president, you must swear to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and what the Constitution says.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Constitution, Defend, Must, Protect

Everybody has his place; everybody is equal. Treated equally, equal standing, equal rights and status.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Standing, Equal, Treated, Status

We are all in favor of the U.S. taking an active and constructive interest in Asia.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Interest, Favor, Asia, Constructive

It takes time, but I have a promising team of younger Ministers, and I am quite sure from amongst them, one leader will emerge.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Leader, Younger, Sure, Emerge

You need people who have their own views, whose views you respect, whom you can have a productive disagreement with, and work out ideas which you might not have come up with, or who improve on ideas you had.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Disagreement, Need, Which, Views

Nowadays, however strong an economy is, not all roads will lead only there. There will be other links between countries in Asia, with America, with Europe, and China will fit into this global network.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Strong, Other, However, Europe

We are not in a situation where the minorities are demanding something and the majorities are pushing back saying 'We don't want it.'

- Lee Hsien Loong

Want, Back, Minorities, Situation

Maybe Americans feel they don't need the rest of the world anymore, and they wish it would go away. We don't have that option.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Rest, Away, Maybe, Option

China is a very big and complicated country; it's not easy to govern. But with courage and unity, China will certainly overcome all difficulties and continue to develop and move forward.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Big, Country, Very, Move Forward

The Chinese are quite clear what their interests are and very consistent on pushing their interests.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Clear, Chinese, Very, Interests

If you go overseas and meet people, you can detect a Singaporean from across the street - the way he dresses, slightly; the way he talks; the way he acts. There is a persona which is recognizable and which we are proud of.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Which, Slightly, Persona, Recognizable

You have to have a sense of what it looks like, not from the point of view of the policymaker but from the point of view of those who are at the receiving end of your policies.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Point Of View, Sense, Like, Receiving

The Chinese go around with lollipops in their pockets. They have aid. They have friendship deals. They build you a Prime Minister's office or President's office or Parliament House or Foreign Ministry. For them, trade is an extension of their foreign policy.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Friendship, Prime, Extension, Aid

You need to have good people: honourable, capable, committed in politics, standing in public office. It's not a guarantee, but it's the ideal we have to aim for.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Politics, Committed, Ideal, Honourable

Criticism, any amount, we welcome it. Come, let's have a discussion - in Parliament, all the better.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Better, Come, Amount, Welcome

If we have no foreign workers, our economy suffers; our own lives suffer.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Suffer, Suffers, Lives, Workers

There is always competition for influence, but there are also opportunities for cooperation.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Competition, Always, Also, Opportunities

My infrastructure must run brilliantly. My whole system must be different from what you can get anywhere else in Asia.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Run, Asia, Whole, Brilliantly

It's never easy to be a small country next to a big neighbor.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Small, Never, Next, Neighbor

In every American election, crazy things are said. Positions are taken which the winners try very hard to forget afterwards.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Winners, Very, Which, Positions

I hope that soon after the next election, amongst them they will have decided, settled, and the leader will be ready to take over from me.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Leader, Next, Over, Ready

If you look at the young people today, they are passionate about all kinds of courses. We have dog-lovers, nature-lovers, those who are pursuing arts; we have quite many who are involved in religious activities through their church.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Through, Religious, Pursuing, Involved

If you asked a Singaporean, on the one hand they'll say, 'Let us do our own things.' On the other hand, when an issue comes out, they'll ask, 'What is the government doing about it?'

- Lee Hsien Loong

Doing, Other, Issue, Asked

When people say they don't want a nanny state, they are, in fact, in a conflicted state of mind. On the one hand, they want to do whatever they want and not be stopped. On the other hand, if something goes wrong, they want to be rescued.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Mind, Other, Stopped, Rescued

At some point, there will be some other financial crisis. It's in the nature of a capitalist system.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Some, Other, Capitalist, Point

You will always have politics being pushed towards multiracial politics because you have to field a team.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Politics, Field, Always, Towards

China is developing very quickly. At every stage, its needs are different.

- Lee Hsien Loong

Stage, Needs, Very, China

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